CIRCULAR 


Sir  :  The  retired  situation  of  the  University,  though  eminently  favorable  to  good  morals  and  habits  of  industry ,  in  most  respects, 
lias  connected  with  it  some  evils.  We  feel  the  want  of  a  society  immediately  around  us  whose  opinions  might  exert  a  controlling 
influence  over  those  of  the  Students.  We  need  those  checks  and  restraints  of  public  sentiment,  which  are  felt  and  acknowledged 
even  by  men  of  mature  age.  The  Institution  has  several  times  since  its  establishment,  been  thrown,  by  the  most  trivial  causes  into 
a  ferment,  which  itias  been  found  difficult  to  allay,  because  reason  for  a  time  lost  its  control  over  the  minds  of  the  young  men. — 
On  such  occasions,  the  most  absurd  and  extravagant  opinions  on  principles  of  justice,  morality  and  good  breeding,  are  advanced 
and  advocated,  with  the  ardour  of  thorough  conviction,  and  the  confidence  usually  reposed  in  the  judgment  and  kind  feelings  of  the 
Faculty,  if  not  entirely  destroyed,  is  greatly  impaired^ 

When  a  Student,  has  been  engaged  in  the  advocacy  of  absurd  and  pernicious  principles,  he  is  too  apt  to  conform  his  practice  to 
his  opinions,  and  if  he  is  not  dismissed  from  College  in  consequence,  his  moral  and  social  character  sustains  permanent  injury.  In 
the  mean  time,  a  serious  inroad  is  made  upon  the  improvement  of  the  great  body  of  the  Students.  The  sentiment  becomes  current, 
that  the  breaking  of  a  Tutor's  window,  or  the  commission  of  an  indictable  trespass  upon  a  recitation  room,  is  not  a  disreputable  ac- 
tion. Such  events  become  the  principal  topics  of  conversation,  and  literature  and  science  cease  to  be  pursued  with  the  zeal  and 
diligence  necessary  to  success.  Every  Parent,  therefore,  who  has  a  son  at  the  University,  has  a  deep  interest  in  seeing  such  practices 
put  down.     They  are  not  likely  to  occur  more  than  once  or  twice  in  the  course  of  a  year,  but  their  effects  are  sometimes  lasting. 

These  evils  ordinarily  grow  out  of  a  Senior  or  a  Freshman  treat,  the  organization  of  an  Ugly  Club,  or  some  similar  association. 
If  the  Faculty  adopt  the  necessary  measures  to  prevent  or  punish  the  commission  of  such  offences,  their  proceedings  are  denounced 
as  acts  of  high-handed  tyranny  ;  the  enemies  of  good  order  and  diligent  study,  more  forward  and  vociferous  than  their  more  worthy 
associates,  cany  with  them  too  many  of  those  whose  virtuous  principles  are  not  well  established.  If  die  rule  laid  down  in  relation 
to  these  offences,  is  faithfully  enforced,  and  punishment  inflicted  lor  each  violation,  public  opinion,  from  which  College  censures 
derive  all  their  force  and  weight — uninformed  in  regard  to  the  magnitude  of  the  evil — and  unmindful  of  the  wide  difference  between 
a  convivial  meeting  of  men  of  mature  minds  and  an  assemblage  of  fifty  or  a  hundred  persons,  between  the  ages  of  fifteen  and 
twenty-one,  is  too  apt  to  decide  against  the  Faculty  as  unnecessarily  rigorous  and  severe. 

This  Institution  has  just  been  visited  by  one  of  these  paroxysms  of  unnatural  excitement.  Certain  members  of  the  higher  Classes 
deceived  the  Freshmen  into  the  belief,  diat  it  had  been  customary  fiom  the  foundation  of  the  Institution,  for  that  Class,  at  an  early 
period  of  the  first  session  of  the  Collegiate  year,  to  give  a  treat  to  the  other  Classes.  A  subscription  of  $2  each  was  thus  obtained 
from  about  thirty-five  members  of  the  Class.  Wine  and  ardent  spirits  were  procured  from  Hillsborough,  and  on  Saturday  night, 
(the  29th  ult.)  the  interval  between  dark  and  nine  o'clock,  when  they  were  not  required  by  the  laws  of  the  College  to  be  in  their 
rooms,  was  appropriated  to  a  celebration  of  this  Festival  in  the  woods. 

Not  more  than  a  third  of  the  individuals  who  subscribed,  are  believed  to  have  attended  the  treat.  Much  the  larger  proportion  of 
those  who  were  present,  wero  members  of  the  older  Classes.  Of  the  participants,  some  drank  freely,  and  a  small  number  to  in- 
toxication. The  result  was  a  series  of  disorders  which  were  continued  through  the  greater  part  of  the  night.  The  doors  of  three  of 
the  Recitation  Rooms  were  forced  in  and  much  battered,  and  gross  indignities  were  offered  to  the  Faculty  when  they  interfered  for 
the  restoration  of  order.  It  is  due,  however,  to  the  great  body  of  the  Students  to  state,  that  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  individuals 
are  believed  to  have  been  engaged  in  these  disgraceful  proceedings. 

In  the  peculiar  circumstances  incident  to  their  local  position,  the  Faculty  have  determined  to  invoke  to  their  aid,  the  solicitude  and 
affection  of  the  parental  bosom.  They  entertain  the  confident  hope,  that  you  will  concur  with  them  in  the  opinion,  that  the  sup- 
pression of  all  assemblages  of  this  character,  is  of  vital  importance  to  the  Institution,  and  that  you  will  co-operate  heartily  with  them 
in  their  efforts  to  effect  it.  This  can  be  accomplished,  only  by  visiting  every  case  of  private  and  public  intoxication  with  the 
severest  penalties,  and  the  adoption  of  such  measures  as  shall  put  an  end  to  all  attempts  at  College  Treats. 

Since  the  action  of  the  Trustees  on  this  subject,  in  every  instance  where  a  S  tudent  has  been  found  publicly  intoxicated,  or  having 
ardent  spirits  in  his  room,  he  has   been  removed  from  the  Institution. 

The  last  Senior  Class  was  distinguished,  not  less  for  general  propriety  of  deportment  than  for  talents  and  scholarship.  The  indi- 
viduals constituting  it  were  earnestly  intieated  to  abstain  from  the  irregularities  too  frequently  consequent,  upon  the  annunciation  of 
the  Senior  Report,  and  were  distinctly  notified,  that  no  one  who  should  attend  a  Senior  treat  would  be  recommended  for  a  degree. 
The  desired  effect  was  produced,  and  the  Faculty  are  determined  to  act  upon  this  principle  in  all  cases  hereafter. 

Not  less  decisive  measures  will  be  adopted  to  prevent  the  excesses  sometimes  committed  at  the  commencement  of  the  Collegiate 
year,  by  the  Ugly  Club. 

If  the  determination  of  the  Faculty  on  these  subjects,  should  meet,  as  we  trust  it  will,  with  your  concurrence,  we  hope  you  will 
say  so  to  your  son,  in  decided  terms. 

By  order  of  the  Faculty, 

DAVID  L-  SWAIN,  President. 


At  a  meeting  of  Trustees  of  the  University  of  North- Carolina,  convened  at  Hillsborough,  on  Monday,  14th  September:  Present 
Hon.  John  L.  Bailey,  William  A.  Graham,  Esq.  Hon.  Willie  P.  Mangum,  James  Mebane,  Esq.  Hon.  Frederic  Nash,  Hon. 
James  S.  Smith,  Hugh  Waddell,  Esq.  and  Doet.  James  Webb — The  Hon.  Frederic  Nash  in  the  Chair, 

The  foregoing  communication  from  the  Faculty  of  the  University,  to  the  Parents  and  Guardians  of  Students  in  that  Institution 
having  been  read  and  considered,  it  was,  on  motion  of  William  A.  Graham,  Esquire, 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  views  expressed  therein  with  respect  to  College  Treats,  the  Ugly  Club,  and  similar  associa- 
tions, and  the  determination  of  the  Faculty  to  suppress  such  evils  in  future,  are  fully  approved  and  sanctioned  by  this  meeting,  and 
that  the  Faculty  be  advised  and  instructed  to  carry  them  into  full  and  vigorous  execution, 


V*YIl*ERSIT\*  OF  >YORTH-C.lROJLLA\i>  ? 

SEPTEMBER  30th,  1840.      5 

Since  the  1  <th  day  of  July,  a  period  of  ten  weeks,  your  son  has  been  absent  from  prayers  times, 

from  recitation  times,  and  from  attendance  on  Divine  worship  times. 

The  number  of  Students  at  present  in  the  University  is  171.     Of  these,  have  not  been  once  absent  from  prayers,  and 

have  not  been  once  absent  from  recitation. 
His  relative  gradation  of  scholarship  in  his  class  is  considered 


/ 


i 


« 


^,y 


VCp3  7? 


fc 


^ 


• 


N.C.  Collection 

Library 

University  otN.Qo 


